Spirit of the Game

The main duty of the referee in enforcing the Laws of the Game (LOTG) is to ensure that the players are able to display their skill without being impeded with undue foul play by opponent. More often many referees enforce the LOTG to the letter of the laws penalizing every infringement with many undue stoppages at the expense of the pleasure of the game. Implementing the Laws (17 Laws in the book) effectively cannot be considered as efficient or excellent without implementing Law 18, which is the discretion and common sense of the referee. More often referees are seen to be too rigid and stringent with the implementation of the letter of the laws and denying the players and also the spectators the enjoyment of the game. What is often left aside is the “Spirit of the Game”. The spirit of the game or the spirit behind the letter of the Laws is to promote the safety, fairness and the enjoyment of the game.
The consideration of safety is that the player are protected and have the feeling that they are free to execute their skills without risking their physical well-being. The famous saying, “football is a gentleman game for the hooligans” – a game where players are taught to abide to the laws of the game. Fairness means that both the teams are given the equal or impartial treatment by the match officials. They are ensured of equal opportunity to compete on the equal playing conditions of the field. Letting the flow of the game without undue interference by whistling or stoppages for trifle matters will permit the players and the spectators the enjoyment and the pleasure of the game with players displaying their skills, artistry and creativity and also the nostalgic moment of celebration of goal scored or other dramatic moments.
Beside enforcing the laws of the game to ensure the safety of the players, taking strong sanctions (caution or sent off) on players to deter them from indulging in unfair foul play, checking the players equipments and appurtenances of the field of play, stopping play for serious or bleeding injuries, checking on the interference from team officials and other measures taken are to ensure the safety and fairness in the game. Playing good advantages and return to the culprit to sanction for misconduct later on, allowing quick free kicks to be taken by not being too fussy with the place of kick, allowing a goal scoring opportunity over a penalty or overruling an offside call by the assistant when the defending team is in control of the ball leads to the pleasure and enjoyment of the game.
Understanding the laws aimed at checking time-wasting or delaying tactics is also upholding the spirit of the game. Goalkeeper are avoided their delaying tactics by checking on the six seconds rule, playing the ball twice, handling the ball played to him by his team-mate either by a kick or a throw in and to allow him to take the goal kick slightly off the goal area is actually denying him the opportunity for delaying tactics. Penalizing player for throwing from a wrong place or allowing him to do so is not inconsistent in implementing the law. Efficient management of the wall at free kick will ensure fairness and avoid delaying tactics – get the player near the ball back earlier, move the wall faster, caution player for intentionally delaying and the use of the whistle. Simulating an injury or pretending a cramp or persistent injury by the goalkeeper should be anticipated by referee when one team is leading. Quick call and get the player off the field faster on the stretcher or even giving a caution if seen blatant by the referee are measures that the referee should take into consideration in the understanding the spirit of the game. It is an advantage if all referees, coaches and players understand the history and intent of each law, then the Spirit of the Game will prevail.